If you are thinking about taking a trip to Stockholm, do not hesitate! The city has so much to offer and you could easily spend a week visiting palaces, museums, & parks all while island hopping. Here’s 11 fun things you can do during your stay in Stockholm.
1. Explore Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s Old Town. It’s home to the Swedish Royal Palace, Storkyrkan, Nobel Prize Museum and narrow cobblestone streets. It’s an extremely walkable island with colorful 17th and 18th century buildings. Check out my post that goes into more detail on 7 Things to Do in Gamla Stan.
2. Vasa Museum
At the Vasa Museum you can learn all about this ship that sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. It was recovered 333 years later almost fully intact!
You can pre-purchase your tickets online for about $17 USD. Children up to 18 years old are free!
3. Go Back in Time With a Visit to Skansen
Skansen is the oldest open-air museum in the world. It’s located on the island of Djurgården in Stockholm not far from Vasa Museum. There is so much to see with more than 150 structures showcasing nearly 500 years of Swedish history. Check out my post about Everything You Need to Know About Skansen.
4. Take a Boat Tour
I highly recommend taking a boat tour. I chose the ‘Under the Bridges Tour’ through Stromma because it was one of the tours offered with the Go City Pass. It was interesting to go through the lock that connects the Baltic Sea to Lake Mälaren. Stromma offers quite a few tours, including a hop on-hop off boat.
5. Stockholm Public Library
When I saw pictures of the Stockholm Public Library I knew I needed to see it in person. I have never seen a library shaped like a cylinder. Although I didn’t have a lot of time to spend here I stayed long enough to admire the architecture and take a few photos. They were doing a bit of renovation but I was still able to see the rounded shelves. This makes for a fun (and free!) activity while in Stockholm.
6. Views from Monteliusvagen
Make your way to the island of Södermalm to see some incredible views of Lake Mälaren, Stockholm City Hall, and Riddarholmen. Monteliusvägen is a narrow footpath on steep cliffs and considered to be one of the best and most romantic viewpoints in Stockholm.
7. Skeppsholmen
Skeppsholmen is a compact island with several museums and connected by bridge to the small island Kastellholmen. On your way over to Skeppsholmen, look for the gilded crown on the bridge.
Shortly after crossing the bridge you’ll come to Moderna Museet Sculpture Park, which has some really interesting sculptures. If you have time you can stop in at one of the museums, or if you’re like me, scooter down to the Skeppsholmen viewpoint for a nice view of Gamla Stan.
8. St. James’s Church & Kungsträdgården
St. James’s Church (Sankt Jacobs kyrka in Swedish) is one of the most notable buildings in central Stockholm due to it’s brightly colored façade. Its within close proximity to Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden) and the Opera House. While you’re in the area, stop into Cafe Söderberg for fika before walking through Kungsträdgården.
9. Nordiska Museet
I really wanted to go inside the Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum) but unfortunately ran out of time. It’s located right by Vasa and not far from Skansen. The museum has over 1.5 million objects that show Nordic cultural history and lifestyle from the 16th century through to the present day.
10. Church of Saint Clare
I happened upon the Church of Saint Clare (or ‘Klara Church’) while wandering around Norrmalm. In actuality, I saw the tower from a distance and found my way to it. It’s an impressive tower at 116 meters tall, the second tallest church in Sweden and Scandinavia. St. Clare’s Priory was built at this location in the 1280s but was demolished in 1527 and the stones were used to build a defensive tower. Construction of the church that stands today began in 1572 by the Dutch master builder Hendrik van Huwen. The church tower was built in the 1880s.
11. Drottningholm Palace
If you have time, I highly recommend visiting Drottningholm Palace. It is the most well-preserved castle in Sweden and on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s a short distance from Stockholm, built on the island Lovön. The name Drottningholm means “Queen’s islet” in English. It was originally built in the late 16th century and is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. The southern wing of the palace is closed to visitors but the grounds and other areas are open year round. Entry is 150 SEK (about $15 USD) for adults and 75 SEK (a little more than $7 USD) for children. The easiest way to get to the palace is by taking the metro with a bus transfer. However, another fun way to get to Drottningholm Palace is via boat through Stromma. The boat tour is also an attraction included in the Go City Pass during Summer months.
Are you planning a trip to Stockholm? Pin this to read later!
